From Thursday to Saturday, wet and milder weather will continue to expandinto the eastern third of the nation. The combination of melting snow, moderateto heavy rain and the potential for ice jams will lead to rises along riversand streams in many communities from southeastern New England to the OhioValley, the Appalachians, and the mid-Atlantic coast.In some areas, these rivers and streams may overflow their banks intosurrounding farmlands, neighborhoods, and onto nearby roadways.

Several inches of water are locked up in the snow on the ground across a goodpart of the Northeast and the Appalachians. The best case scenario this weekis that the snow melts away slowly enough for rivers and streams to handle theincrease in water. However, with the big storm moving east and threatening therainfall, AccuWeather.com meteorologists will continue to closely monitor thesituation this week.

Keep checking back for the latest thinking on this threat here atAccuWeather.com.

Story by AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Meghan Evans.